Window-cleaning apparatus



May 12,y .1925.

F. W. TULLY WINDOW CLEANING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Shea?!I 1 Filed April 6, 1920 mimi May 12, 1925. 1,537,273

` F; W; TULLY WINDOW CLEANING APPARATUS Fi1ed.Apr1 6, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 12, 1925.

razzia FRANCIS W. TULLmor BBQOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.'

WIDOW-GLEANING APPARATUS.

pplicatioaled april 6,

To all 11i/om Yit may concern.'

Be it known thatl, FRANCIS lV; TUL'LY, citizen of the United States of 'i/meriea, and resident of Brookline, in the county of Norfolk and State ot ll/lassachusetts, have in* Vented new and useful Improvements in lindowCleaning Apparatus, of which the following'is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for cleaning windows and the like, and has for its objects, amongother things, the provision of portable and'easily manipulated means for cleaning surfaces such as .those oli windows, rapidly and safely,l and with aminimuni ot' cleaning; liquid; the provision also of means for absorbing from the cleaned surface the cleaning liquid and dirt collected thereby in the shortest possible time after said liquid has performed its cleaning- 'function. A variety of useful results are obtainable by the employment of apparatus embodying' my invention, according,` to the situation'in and the conditions under, which, it is used. Theoutside surfaces ofwindows can be cleansed by means of this apparatus without obliging the operator to sity or stand on. the window ledge outside; in cold weather my improved cleaning apparatus absorbs and removesthe cleansing liquid before it has had time to freeze. Because of the fact that this apparatus employs the minimum Aamount of liquid necessary to ef- 'l'ect gleamingV of the window, or similar surface, it can be usedrto clean the inner surtacesof glazed show cases without removing or disturbing their contents.

Other adaptabilities and utilities otthese improvements will transpire in the course of the following description of an example ot such apparatus.

ln the drawings hereto annexed, which illustrate an embodiment otmy invention;

ligrure 41 is a sideelevation ofthe win# dow cleaner, in Vtbe position it will occupy while operating ona'vertical surface;

ll`i, rure 2 is aY Vcross section through the operating parts ot the apparatus,,taken atV the .line 2--2 ot Fig.y 3;

Figure 3 is a View in elevation of the working` face of the window cleaner; and

Figure l isa side elevation (partly broken away) as viewed from the lower side of VFigure 3.

a shaft-*journal portionv 2, and hollow pe- 1920. semaine. 371,714.

ripherally disposed posts The stub-shaft 7 is journaleo in the journal portion 2, and flexible driving` means 8, suitably housed in a'tlexible tube 9, connected to the stubshat't 7.

. Fingers l are mounted in the hollow posts 3, and are yieldingly sustained .by springs 5. Each of .the lingers 4 is tipped at 6 with sott material, such as rubber, which is well adapted to make contact with a `window surface. Y

A', tank 10, provided with a suitable lillingbpening 1.0ais keyed orotherwise se cured to the stub-shaft 7, and is thus mounted to rotate on the holder. To this tank thev operating mem'aers of the window cleaner are secured. a drier. The scrubber is adapted to carry water or other cleansing fluid t0, and to Aspread it on, the window surface; the drier is adapted to wipe the lluid from the surface and to absorb and dry it. f

1n the example here illustrated, the scrubber comprises 'duid applying means, preferA ably, the wick 13, supplying fluid to the applying' surface by capillarity, and sustained by the saddle l2 mounted on posts 11, and

housed by the walls 18, and fluid spreading` means, namely; the flexible strips n or squeegees7 19, held between the walls 18 and clamping` plates 20. The squeegees or sprcaders 19 willpreterably be made of rubber; though leather will serve. The drier here shown consists of stripslet of cloth, felt, or chamois-leather, held in assemblage between convoluted metal strips 15, 16.

AThese strips are secured by pivot pins 23 and screws Qi to ears 21 and 22 which project from the clamping' plates 20, and are also steadied by engagement with posts 25 mounted on the side 17 of the tank 10.

The scrubber members,`i. e. wick 13 and spreaders 19 preferably extend'dialnet-rically across the rotary member, i. c., tank lll; while the drier members, i. e., felt or soft absorbent leather strips l/l surround tbe scrubber. By disposing" the drier iu convolutionsn a relatively large quantity of wip ing and al'isorbing.material isproyided.

The clamping plates`20 are secured in position by disengageable means, such as tbe eye-boltsQG and wing-nuts 27. The outer fstrips 16 are pivoted at 23, and'held at the l other ends by screws 24, which pass through the eyes 16. By removing screw 24, the strip 16 can be swung outwardly-" as sug- These comprise a scrub-ber and l sev crested bythe dotted line position of the strip in Fig, -and the drier-material 1l removed to be Washed, or reversed, when necessary.

The operating surfaces of the scrubber and drier are in substantially the same plane, so that when the rotary member (the tank l() in the illustration here shown) is rotated, as by flexible shaft S, the performance of the respective scrubbing, wiping, and drying` functions is sin'iultaneous.

F or facility in handling the above dcscribed apparatus, the handle 29 is provided. This is pivotally secured to the journal e1.:- tension 2 of the holder at 2S, and is steadied by means of the curved arm 3U, which passes through the handle 29 at S3. lSprings 3l and surround the arm 30, and abut, respectively, against the holder 1 and nut 3l. Both these springs normally Xert pressure against the handle. 29, which is thus held in yielding relation to the holder l.

The operation of the above described apparatus is as follows:

The tank l() having been iilled with Water or other cleansing iluid, and the aperture l0 being closed'the person operatingthe apparatus takes it by the handle Q9 and brings the tips 6 of the yielding lingers 4 to bear on the surface to be cleaned, and sets the rotary member-i. e. tank lO, with the operatinpfactors carried thereby into rapid rotation by starting a motor (not shown) which is conveniently attached to the flexible shaft S. The capillary action of the wick 13, which serves as the liquid applying means, draws the cleansing fluid from the tank l0 and deposits it on the surface to be cleaned, Wet-ting` an area swept by the face of the. wick as it rotates. The squecaeestrips 1S) spread the fluid over (he surface, aiding the fluid to start the dirt. The Wipers and driers l-l absorb the liquid and pick up the dirt; thus the wetting, spreading', wiping and drying,l go on simultaneously. The operator traverses the apparatus, over the surface to be cleaned, so that all parts of the surface are subjected to the action of the above described operating factors.

Very little Water or other cleansing' fluid is actually required to remove a film of dust, such as collects on glass surfaces, and an adepiate amount for the purpose is supplied by the capillary action of the liquid supplying means here described. Preferably, only the minimum of fluid required, will be supplied; a surplus, hoivever, will do no harm in most instances. But in very cold Weather, it is desirable to ivipc and dry a Window pane promptly after the application of Water, and to use as little Water as possible, in order to avoid the formation of ice. Also,if show cases and the like are tobe cleaned, the minimum necessary quantity of Water for cleansing purposes can be immediately absorbed by the above described aparatus, which can be used, therefore, without necessitating the removal of articles on exhibition in the. show case. lt is obvious from the foregoing description that the cleaning apparatus can conveniently be employed in places difficult to reach with ordinary appliances. Moreover the abovedescribed apparatus is in large measure selfcleaning. lf, While cleaning' a ivindoiv the holder be removed from the glass, the reduction of load on the motor vill speed up 'the rotation of the tank l0 and the cleaning iustruinents carried by it, and the .vater and dirt Will be centrifugally flung out of the wiper pads 14:.

The principle on which the cleaning` apparatus operates is, as descr`bed in detail above, the simultaneous action of ascrubber and drier in close juxtaposition; this is effected by having the operating faces of these tivo factors in substantially the sameA plane; also, the application and spreading of cleansnie fluid from a center outward to the drier; this is effected bylocating the scrubber inside the drier.

lVhile means for affording a more copious supply of cleansing fluid than the capillary wick might be employed, the capillary wetting means is preferred, since it is economical and supplies enough for eliective Work. The VWick, as arranged in the. appa ratus herein described, itself performs a part of the spreadingl and scrubbingl function, and might be employed Without any auxiliary scrubbers such as the squeegee strips. These, however, are to be recommeiuled, for, not only do they assist materially in spreading the fluid, but they also give the surface a ivet wipe, aud relieve the face 'of the wick from frictioual abrasion.

I claim:

l. A Window cleaner comprising iu conibina'tion a scrubber and a drier, having their respective operating' surfaces in substantially the same plane and normally lixed relatively to one another, means for supplying Washingliquid to the scrubber, means simultaneously to move the scrubber and drier while in contact ivith a Window surface, and a handle whereby said scrubber and drier may be manipulated.

2. A ivindow cleaner comprisingl in conibination a scrubber, a drier surroumling; the scrubber, the operating' surfaces of tinvv scrubber and drier lying' Vin snbstai'itially (he same plane, means to supply washing liquid to the scrubber and means to rotate. (he. scrubber and drier simultaneously on a uindoW surface.

3. A ivindoiv cleaner comprising in conibination, a scrubber and a drier having' their respective operatinfbr surfaces lying in substantially the same. plane and fixed relatively to one another, capillarymeans to supply Washing liquid to the scrubber, and

vpower actuated means simultaneously to move the scrubber and drier While in rcontact with a Window surface.y e

4. In a Window cleaner, Vthe combination ot a scrubber compiisingliquid supp-lying means andliquid. spreading means, a drier, the operating surfaces of scrubber and drier respectively being arranged in substantially the saine plane and fixed relatively one to the other, and meanssimultaneously tok siniultaneously on a Window surface.

6. In a Window cleaner, the combination et a scrubber comprising 'liquid-applying ii'ieans, liquid-supplying means and liquidsnreading means, a drier, the operating suril'iices' of the scrubber and drier respectively7 lying in substantially the saine plane and being lined relatively to one another, and

nie-ans simultaneously to move the scrubber and drier and While in contact With a window surface.

'7. A Window cleaner comprising in combination a scrubber, drying means surrounding the scrubber, the scrubber and drying inea-ns having their respective,surfaces normally arranged in .substantially the saine plane, means for supplying cleaning'liquid tothe scrubber, and means for rotating the dryer while the scrubbe1 and dryer siiiiult'aneously contact with a window surface.

S. A windowcleaner comprising in combiuation a rotatable support, a scrubber, drying means mounted upon the support, the drying ineans'being disposed radially outward beyond the scrubber as, respects the axis ot' the support, the,y operating surfaces ot' the scrubber and l drying means lying in substantially the same plane, means to supply Washing fluid to the scrubber, and means connected with the rotating support lor rotating the latter While the scrubber and drying means simultaneously Contact with a Window surface.

S). A Window-cleaner, comprising in combination a scrubber and a drier, having their respective iqierating surfaces in substantially the same plane, said scrubber and drier being rotatable about a common axis, means to sup-ply Washing liquid to the scrubber and flexible drive means for simultaneously rotating said drier and scrubber.

10. In a Window cleaner the combination ot a rotating support having a luid containing lcavity therein, upon the support, and having spreading means, a drier surrounding the scrubber,

er, ascrubber anda dr tank, the scrubbercomprising capillary liqa scrubber mounted the operating surfaces ofi' the scrubber, s )reader and drier respectively Ylying in substantially the same plane, and tlexible means to rotate the scrubber While in contact With a Window surface.

ll. A Window cleaner, comprising in combination a holder, a handle therefor, atank for liquid, rotatively mounted in the hold,-y er, a scrubber and a drier, mounted Von the tank, the scrubber comprisingcapillary'liquid supplying means in communication with the interiorot the tank, tlie'drier surrounding the scrubber, the operating surfaces ot the scrubber and drier, respectively, lying in substantially the saine plane, and means to rotate the tank with the attached scrubber and drier simultaneously on a Window surface.

l2. A Windev7 cleaner, comprising in combination'a holder, a handle therefor, a tank tor liquid, rotatively mounted in the holdier, mounted on the uid supplying means in communication with the interior et thetanlr, and liquid spreading means adjacent to the liquid supplying means, the drier surrounding the scrubb r, the operating surfaces of the scrubber and drier, respectively, lying` in substantially the saine plane, and flexible means to rotate the tank with the attached scrubber and drier simultaneously on a windenYV surface.

i3. A window cleaner, f comprisingin combination a holder, a handle yieldingly attached toV the holder, a tank for liquid,

rotatively Ymounted in the holder, a kscrubber and a drier mounted on the tank, the scrubber' comprising.; capillary liquid supplying means `rin communication with the interior of the tank, the drier urrounding the scrubber, the operating surfaces ot the scrubber and drier, respectively, lying in substantiallythe saine plane, rand means to il l) lll?) rotate the tank with the attached scrubber and drier simultaneously on a Window surface. y

'kl-fi.. Ywindowl cleaner,` comprising# in combination, a holder, a handle yieldingly attached to the holder, a tank Jfor liquid,

rotativelymounted in the holder, a scrubl ber and a drier mounted on the tank, the scrubber comprising capillary liquid supplying means in communication with the. interior of the tank and liquid spreading means adjacent to the liquid supplying means, the drier surrounding the scrubber,` the operating surfaces of the scrubber andy drier, respectively, being arranged in substantially the same plane, and means rto rotate the tank with the attached l*scrubber and drier simultaneously on a Window surface..`

l5. A Window cleaner comprising in combination a holder, a handle for the v holder, a support rotatably mounted upon the holder, a scrubber, a dryer mounted upon the support and surrounding the scrubber, the dryer being of convoluted outline, the operating surfaces of the scrubber and dryer respectively lying in substantially the same plane, means to supply fluid to thc'scrubber, and means to rotate the support with the dryer mounted thereon.

16. A window cleaner comprising in combination a holder, yielding fingers on the holder adapted to rest aga-inst a window surface` a handle for the holder, a support. rotatably mounted on the holder, a scrubber mounted upon the support, capillary means for supilying fluid to the scrubber, liquid spreading' means mounted upon the support at a point adjacent to the liquid supplying means, a dry-er snrrouud-V ing the scrubber, the operating` surfaces of the scrubber, Lneading means, and dryer respectively lying in the same plane, and means to rotate the support with the attached scrubber and spreader.

17. A window cleaner connirising in Vcombination a holder uositioninc lingers 7 J` C O on the holder adapted to rest against a window surface, a handle piifotally attached to the holder, yieldingl means for retaining the holder and handle in normal relationship, a scrubber and drier carried by the holder, and means for simultaneously operating the scrubber and drier while the fingers are held in Contact with a window surface. V Y

18. A' window cleaner comprising in combination a holder, yielding-ly mounted positioning fingers on the holder adapted to rest against a window surface, a handle lyieldingly attached to the holder, a scrubber, a spreader and a drier carried by the holder, means for supplying fluid to the scrubber, and means for rotating the drier about the axis of the holder while maintaining the lingers in contact with a vwindow surface.

19. In a window cleaner, the combinationV of a holder, a rotary member l1ournaled in the holder, a scrubber and drier mounted on the rotary member, with theirv operating faces in substantially the same plane, the scrubber extending diametrically across rear/geve the rotary member and the drier disposed on either side of the scrubber, means to supply cleaning liquid to the scrubber, and means to rotate the rotary member.

20. A window cleaner comprising a holder having an axial bearing opening, a shaft journalled in said opening, a support mounted upon one end of said shaft, yielding positioning fingers projecting from the holder and spaced at substantially equal distances about the axis of said shaft, scrubbing and drying means carried by the support and simultaneously operable for cleaning a window, and means connected with the other end of the shaft for rotating it.

2l. In a window cleaner, the combination of a holder, a. rotary member journale-d in the holder, a scrubber and drier mounted on the rotary member with their operating fac-es in substantially the same plane, the scrubber comprising' capillary means for simplying and means for spreading cleaning liquid and ext-ending diametric-ally across the rotary member, and the drier disposed on either side of the scrubber, and means to rotate the` rotary member.

In a window cleaner the combination of a holder, a rotary member journalle-d in the holder, a drier of absorbent material mounted upon the rotary member, and means for removably securing the drier to the rotating member comprising separable clamping elements between which the drier may be secured, and releasable means for holding said clamping elements in operative relationship.

2?. A window cleaner comprising a. rotatable support, a clamping strip mounted thereon, a second clamping strip normally parallel to the Erst strip, said second strip being pirotally supported at one of its ends te swing away from the other strip, releasable means engageable with ythe other end Aof the strip for holding the second clamping strip in operative relationship to the first strip, and a drier element normally clamped between said strip and engageable with a window surface for removing moisture therefrom. y

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this second day of April, 1920.

FRANCIS lV. TULLY. 

